Mar 2015 Youniversal Award presentation – San Francisco

With the most votes from more than sixty international nominees, the de Young’s David Hockney exhibition won the YOUniversal Award from the premier edition of the Global Fine Art Awards (GFAA) program. The exhibition was doubly honored, also receiving Honorable Mention for the Best Contemporary Art award.
A private reception was held in honor of receiving the award, Richard Benefield, Deputy Director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco said “The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are proud to share this award with David Hockney and Gregory Evans and the many, many people who contributed in so many ways to make the exhibition a reality. I, personally, want to thank the President of our Board of Trustees, Diane B. Wilsey, whose idea it was to have a David Hockney show in the first place, and who then encouraged us to make the show really great. I think we succeeded.”
The private award celebration was hosted by Ali and John Walecka at their home in Atherton. The Walecka’s are longtime supporters of the arts, and Mr. Walecka currently serves on the Board of Trustees of SFMOMA.
Mrs. Walecka said, “We are very proud to host this dinner honoring the Global Fine Art Award’s winner for the YOUniversal Award, “David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition” curated by the de Young Museum. The exhibition was spectacular. We also applaud the work of the Global Fine Art Awards in its mission to elevate the importance and recognition of fine art and the best exhibitions produced around the world.”
GFAA Founder, Ms. Judy Holm, traveled from Miami to present the award, a bronze trophy-sculpture created by UNESCO artist for Peace, Hedva Ser.
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Article excerpts from museum website, and members’ newsletter “This December, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was awarded the YOUniversal Global Fine Art Award, one of a series of prizes recognizing the best fine art exhibitions and installations. The de Young’s presentation of David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition was selected for the YOUniversal award by public vote from a nominee list culled from more than 1,000 exhibitions at more than 200 museums in 18 countries. The exhibition also received an Honorable Mention for the Contemporary Art Award.”